FOLLOW US

New Food Bank vouchers to carry portrait of Cameron

A new design for the Food Bank voucher was unveiled today. It will be available from July to coincide with the nationwide rollout of Iain Duncan Smith’s Benefit Cap. Mr Duncan Smith’s merchandise is already on sale in four London Boroughs; it is a minimalist concept comprised of a tall yellow cone emblazoned with a large capital letter D, in Blue and designed to be worn on the head in public by those who qualify.

By contrast, the new Food Bank vouchers are of a style more befitting a PM who is a big supporter of banks. His portrait will be printed intaglio, in full colour with reversible inks to reduce forgery, on a background of RAF Brize Norton featuring a British soldier being repatriated. A holographic ribbon interweaved down the centre of the voucher will bear the lettering “In DWP We Trust”.

A No.10 spokesman said it reflected Mr Cameron’s desire to ensure that “hard working people” have the right to a decent education and a step on the housing ladder. The basic Food Bank voucher will have a face value of 20p (less VAT) and will be known as “The Gideon”. Other values of vouchers have yet to be announced, but it is expected that the maximum value will be 73p (VAT inclusive).